Acts 14:12-22

¹²They identified Barnabas as the Greek god Zeus, and Paul as the god Hermes because he was one who did most of the talking.

¹³The priest of the temple of Zeus that lay just outside the town, brought oxen and wreaths to the town gates. He planned to carry out a sacrifice in front of the crowds.

¹⁴But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul learned what was happening, they tore their clothes, and rushed into the crowds, shouting out,

¹⁵“People, what are you doing? We are human beings with the same kind of nature as you. We came to bring you good news, so you could turn from these pointless things to a God who is truly alive. He is the one who made heaven, earth, and sea, and everything in them.

¹⁶In past times he allowed all the nations to follow their own ways.

¹⁷Even so he still provided evidence of himself by doing good, sending you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons, providing all the food you need, and filling you with happiness.”

¹⁸With these words they barely managed to stop the crowds from offering sacrifices to them.

¹⁹But then some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul, and dragged him outside the town, thinking he was dead.

²⁰But when the believers gathered around him, he got up, and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

²¹After sharing the good news with the people in that town, and after many had become believers, they went back to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch.

²²They encouraged the believers to remain firm and to continue to trust in Jesus. “We have to go through many trials to enter God's kingdom,” they said.